Significant differences were found for some of the SELS parameters. According to the results obtained for SELS Sew, products that showed to be more effective against aging were V, M, N, T, P, R and L. We think this methodology may be considered very useful for the direct study of the skin surface and may be suitable as a routine method in wrinkle evaluation.

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The aim of this study was to test the injectability of a bone filler system based on the combination of ceramic microspheres with a gel-like vehicle, for noninvasive surgery. Porous hydroxyapatite microspheres with a uniform size and an average diameter of 535 +/- 38 mum were prepared, and their compression strength and friability were tested. The sodium-alginate solution with a concentration of 7.25% (w/v) was used as the vehicle. To promote its in situ gelation, calcium carbonate and D-gluconic-delta-lactone were added to the solution. Microspheres were mixed with the vehicle at different percentages (20-40 wt %). Gelation times in the range of 8-20 min, were obtained, depending on the formulation. Mixtures of HAp microspheres with alginate solution at 7.25% originating a gel in 11 min present an adequate handling time to perform an injection. Their injectability was evaluated using an injection device commonly employed in vertebroplasty surgical procedures, coupled to a texturometer in compression mode. Using an extrusion rate of 0.1 mm/s, the force required to extrude any of the mixtures tested was lower than 100 N. For an extrusion rate of 1 mm/s mixtures with 40 wt % of microspheres were very difficult to inject. Mixtures with 35 wt % of microspheres presented the best compromise between injectability and compression strength of the gelled system. MicroCT analysis revealed a homogeneous distribution of the microspheres inside the vehicle, as well as full interconnection of the intra-microspheres spaces. The compression strength for the gelled systems ranged from 80 kPa (gel itself) to 600 kPa (composite with 40 wt % of microspheres).

Abstract.A polymeric solution and a reinforcement phase can work as an injectable material to fill up bone defects. However, the properties of the solution should be suitable to enable the transport of that extra phase. Additionally, the use of biocompatible materials is a requirement for tissue regeneration. Thus, we intended to optimize a biocompatible polymeric solution able to carry hydroxyapatite microspheres into bone defects using an orthopedic injectable device. To achieve that goal, polymers usually regarded as biocompatible were selected, namely sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and Na-alginate (ALG). The rheological properties of the polymeric solutions at different concentrations were assessed by viscosimetry before and after moist heat sterilization. In order to correlate rheological properties with injectability, solutions were tested using an orthopedic device applied for minimal invasive surgeries. Among the three polymers, ALG solutions presented the most suitable properties for our goal and a non-sterile ALG 6% solution was successfully used to perform preliminary injection tests of hydroxyapatite microspheres. Sterile ALG 7.25% solution was found to closely match non-sterile ALG 6% properties and it was selected as the optimal vehicle. Finally, sterile ALG 7.25% physical stability was studied at different temperatures over a 3-month period. It was observed that its rheological properties presented minor changes when stored at 25°C or at 4°C.